Monthly
Chapel Bulletin
September 2023
Dedicated to the Sorrowful Mother
It probably was a normal, quiet day in Nazareth when the future Queen of Heaven was born. Certainly there was no fanfare of trumpets, no cheering crowds outside a palace gate, no couriers clattering off in all directions to announce the happy news. But in Paradise excitement must have gone rippling through the ranks of Cherubim and Seraphim, Angels and Archangels. This tiny pink baby was the faint pink dawn from which eventually would flash Christ, the Perfect Day. This was the stem from which would bud Christ, the crimson Rose of suffering and salvation. This was the green pasture where the Lamb of God would graze and grow; the bridge down which Divinity would pass from Heaven and earth; the jewel-casket that was to hold the Pearl of Great Price, our ransom; the sheltering lamp within which would burn the Light of the World.
There was no celebration across the world the day Our Lady was born, and there will be no spectacular celebration on the anniversary of that day now. To most people September 8th will be merely another black numeral on the calendar. But isn’t that just like a mother’s birthday? In a family, mother’s birthday is not a national holiday; but it is a very special day, a red-letter day in the family circle. So let us not worry too much if the world ignores the eighth of September. It is our mother’s birthday, and we love her, we who have so much reason to remember, will not forget!
~Fr. Joseph Manton, CSSR
Monastery Dress Code
We ask all visitors to please abide by our dress code while on the monastery grounds.
Women: Dresses or skirts must be below the knee. No sleeveless blouses, pants or shorts. Head coverings are required in the Chapel.
Men: No shorts or tee shirts.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST – Saint Anna, Prophetess, was in attendance at the Temple when Jesus was presented. Having all her life believed in the prophecies of the Old Testament, she was the only woman in the Temple to greet the Saviour. First Friday.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND – Saint Stephen of Hungary. First Saturday.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD – 14TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. Pope Saint Pius X issued decrees on early Communion and also reformed the liturgy, promoted clear and simple homilies, and brought Gregorian chant back to services.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH – Saint Eleutherius. First day of school for IHM students and staff!
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH – NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. On this day our Heavenly Queen first made her appearance in this world! Visit our shrine of Maria Bambina today and say a special prayer on her feast day!
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH – Saint Peter Claver. Read his life in the issue of From the Housetops that features this great Saint!
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH – 15TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. Saint Nicholas of Tolentino had a great love for the Holy Souls. He would offer Mass, pray and do penance for them so they could more quickly enter Heaven.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH – Saints Protus and Hyacinth. Pray for our country on this anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH – The Holy Name of Mary. “God the Father gathered all the waters together and called them the seas or maria (Latin, seas). He gathered all His grace together and called it Mary or Maria . . .This immense treasury is none other than Mary whom the Saints call the ‘treasury of the Lord.’ From her fullness all men are made rich.” – St. Louis de Montfort
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH – Saint Eulogius. On this day in 1917, Our Lady appeared to the three Fatima Children for the fifth time and asked them to continue praying the Rosary! Are we fulfilling her wishes by praying it every day?
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH – The Exultation of the Holy Cross has its origin at Jerusalem, and is connected with the commemoration of the Finding of the Cross and the building, by Constantine, of churches upon the sites of the Holy Sepulcher and Calvary. Feastday of Sister Marie-Celine, MICM.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH – Our Lady of Sorrows. Devotion to the Sorrows of Mary gave rise to the figure in Christian art of the Pietà, the sorrowing Mother holding the dead Body of her Son at the foot of the Cross.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH – 16TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. Stigmata of Saint Francis.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH – Saint Joseph of Cupertino is the patron saint of air travelers, aviators, astronauts, people with a mental handicap, test takers, and weak students.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH – Our Lady of La Salette came to remind Christians to fulfill their religious duties, to a horror of blasphemy, and to the sanctification of Sunday.
EMBER DAYS: Many Christian feasts were set to replace certain pagan festivals. This is the case with the Ember Days of the four seasons. The Romans feasts to times of planting and harvest were Christianized and made days of prayer and penance. The Ember Days are days of abstinence, which means there is no meat. The Fall Ember Days are on September 20th, 22nd and 23rd.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH – Saint Eustace, a Roman captain, was passionately fond of the chase. One day, after bringing a stag to bay, he saw a crucifix between its horns. He was immediately converted and was baptized the next day. Eustace was martyred by being shut inside a brazen bull.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST – Saint Matthew was a tax-collector, until Our Lord passed his booth and said simply: “Follow Me.” Matthew left his money, position and family and followed Christ immediately. He wasted no time wondering, “If I could only be sure I have a vocation,”…He heard the call and went. Feastday of Brother Matthew, MICM.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD – Saint Padre Pio of Pieltrelcina. Read his life in a recent issue of From the Housetops Magazine which was written, published and printed here at SBC!
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH – 17TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. Our Lady of Ransom. When many Christians were being seized by Turks, Our Lady came to the rescue by asking three men to found an Order for the redemption of captives. By this, she shows the loving motherly concern she has for each and every one of us. Say a prayer for the persecuted Christians, especially in the Middle East.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH – Saint Cleophas was one of the two disciples who met Christ on the road to Emmaus after the Resurrection. He was the brother of Saint Joseph and the father of Saint James the Less and Mary Salome, one of the women who stood with the Mother of God at the foot of the Cross.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH – The Eight North American Martyrs. We should have a special love and reverence for these men who were among the first to shed their blood for Christ in the New World. Have you visited the shrine where three of these saints were martyred in Auriesville, NY?
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH – Saints Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers who became skilled doctors. They did not charge a fee for their services. It was impossible that such prominent persons would escape unnoticed in time of persecution: they were arrested and beheaded. Nine centuries after their deaths, Francis of Assisi rebuilt the dilapidated church that was dedicated to them called San Damiano.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH – Saint Michael. Devotion to Michael the Archangel is one of the oldest devotions of the Church. His roles in God’s Divine plan date back before the Incarnation. It was Saint Michael who led God’s army against Lucifer and the other rebellious fallen angels, Saint Michael who guards the Catholic Church and her pope, and Saint Michael who, at God’s command will reprise his role against the Antichrist in the End Times.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH – Saint Jerome is frequently remembered for his bad temper! It is true that he had a very bad temper and could use a vitriolic pen, but his love for God was extraordinarily intense! Jerome went after anyone who taught error and was an enemy of God and truth, with his mighty and sometimes sarcastic pen.
IHM SCHOOL CCD PROGRAM
IHM offers once-a-week catechetical instruction for children attending other schools. Please contact us for more information and to have a child attend these classes.
IHM ANNUAL YARDSALE & BAZAAR
Preparations are beginning for our Bazaar & Yard Sale fundraiser on October 7! Mark your calendar, alert your friends and family, and get ready for a day of good ol’ time fun!
